Galle intro.The Southwest Coast should be an essential part of every traveller's itinerary in Sri Lanka. Far from the ancient capitals in the mountains, this is a land of endless coastline and ancient colonial exploration. The Portuguese port town of Galle and its impressive 17th century seaside fortress are cool enough to warrant UNESCO World Heritage status. Galle is arguably the best example of colonial efforts in Asia and deserves more than a day or two to truly appreciate the influences of the Dutch, the British and the Muslims that came before. Some of nicest Southwest Coast hotels can be found in Galle, a rising star of Sri Lankan tourism. For a more romantic beach atmosphere, the sleepy fishing village of Unawatuna is just around the headland. Here, the beaches seem to run on forever, broken only by another quaint village or a little-known surf break. It is easy to pass weeks at a time unwinding on the Southwest Coast, making this region the perfect place to go to after exploring the ancient Sri Lankan cities of the interior.